E-CIGARETTE ADS GO BIG IN NZ

Posted on 20.05.2015 |

Through the interviews we were asked a million silly questions (many of them non-vaping related).

We fielded questions like; are we were trying to "glamorise" the electronic cigarette industry by "selling sex"... When challenged by us, asking if the person making that statement might in fact be the one in the wrong for associating a females voice with sex, the subject quickly changed.

Another line of questions were around our intention to recruit young, non-smokers... Lets get it straight; our intention is to offer smokers and alternative to smoking. THAT'S IT. And we are not ashamed to do what we have to do (as long as it is legal) to get the word out those who need us.

Here is a media release from Radio NZ News that came out on the back end of our vape ads and interviews. Although one of the better ones it still seems as though there was an agenda to the interview.

Concern has been raised that advertising e-cigarettes could attract non-smokers. (14/05/15)

He said although advertising the products could mean more people tried to quit smoking, there was concern it could also have the reverse effect.

"The advertising, if it's portrayed in a particular way, could be a means of recruiting non-smokers.

"There's a worry from some quarters that this could then lead on to actually smoking tobacco cigarettes and sort of glamourising the behaviour, and maybe recruiting a whole generation of nicotine-dependent young people."

Professor Bullen, who is also a member of End Smoking New Zealand, said it sounded like the NZ VAPOR ad was aimed at young adults.

"Having listened to the ad, I'm not persuaded that it's promoting e-cigarette use among very young people but it is youth orientated, (...) probably youths who go to bars."

But NZ VAPOR managing director QJ Satchell said their target audience was 35- to 55-year-olds, not young people.

"There's key things that are set around the website so people can't be under age and buying. And if we were to see that happening, we would certainly close their account."

According to the Ministry of Health, no e-cigarettes have been approved for sale in New Zealand.

Although it is illegal to sell e-cigarettes containing nicotine, people can buy the nicotine cartridges for the devices online.